BRETT MATHESON-MAYTWAYASHING

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BRETT MATHESON-MAYTWAYASHING

BROWN WOLF MAN

OZAAWAA MA'IINGAN ININI

WATER DRUM BOY

WOLF CLAN - MA'IINGAN DOODEM

Unexpectedly, Brett Matheson-Maytwayashing passed away on July 14, 2026, at the age of 27 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his spouse Jennifer Rangel Rangel of Portage la Prairie; his oldest son Reed Lavallee Dokken; daughter Xiomara Rangel Matheson-Maytwayashing, and baby girl on the way; his parents, Derek and Alissa; siblings, Brianna (Jeremy) Bezan and Clarissa (Christian); father-in-law Salvador Rangel Diaz; mother-in-law Maribel Rangel; grandmothers, Carol Leclair and Marlene Maytwayashing; sisters-in-law whom he saw as sisters, Jessica Rangel Rangel and Yaretzi Rangel Rangel; his three nephews and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was predeceased by his great-grandfather Clarence Angus Monkman in 2002; his great-grandmother Jean Monkman in 2000; uncles, Eugene Monkman in 2000, Jonathan Maytwayashing in 2021; grandfather John Matheson in 2009; grandfather Dennis Monkman in 2021 and step-grandfather Ted Leclair in 2024.

Brett was the youngest of three, joining his sisters, Brianna and Clarissa. He was born in Winnipeg to his parents, Alissa and Derek on October 6, 1998, a blessing to all who met him, and a quiet little boy until his sisters would go pester him. He loved hanging out with his sisters, playing with toys, collecting sticks and later joining the Army Cadets.

His parents moved to raise him in Portage la Prairie from 10 months old onward. He went to North Memorial, Victoria, Aurthur Meighen and LVS schools, and in 2016 he graduated from PCI. Through his teen years he would bring his friends over to the house and Derek and Alissa adopted three as their sons; Nick French and Eythan Chambette and Marshal Emberly. As Brett got older, he made many special friendships. His oldest friends were Justin Longclaws and Harley Gabriel. When you needed a friend, he was always one you could count on.

At 15.5 years old, he got his learners license, at 16 earned his drivers. His dad bought him an older Honda Shadow motorcycle and he enjoyed driving it as much as he could. While working, he bought himself a little Neon car, after letting his sister drive it. Later he took over payments on his parent's Ford Escape. At 18 he traded in the Escape for a 2017 GMC Elevation; his grandfather would tease his dad that his son had a newer truck than his dad. Eventually, he also got his class 4 drivers license and his motorcycle license.

He would bug his parents if he could start work since he was 12 years old. So when he was 14, he brought a paper home for his parents to sign so that he could work. His parents had no choice but to sign it because he wouldn’t let it go. He worked at Walmart, Co-op Gas Bar, Portage Transport, cleaning the trailers, then he started working for the Commissionaires for the City of Portage, with hopes to become a police officer.

During his time with the Commissionaires he earned his security guard license, he worked by-law and animal control and later became a supervisor. He also worked for Sirius Security, Delta Security and Gardaworld at different sites and socials. He later went to work at the MDC as a service worker, working with his mom. Later he moved on to a psychiatric nurse’s assistant where he had the privilege of working with his dad in a few residential areas. When the MDC was in the process of closing down, Brett earned his health care aide certification, but he chose to pursue a career with the Sheriff’s office. He made a second family with the people he worked with at the Sheriff’s Office and spoke of them often. His colleagues shared how he always had a smile, and how he went out of his way to help people.

In 2018, with his son Reed coming into his life, his strength was renewed to stay clean, as he was his greatest joy. By 2020 he met the love of his life and future partner Jennifer. They welcomed their first daughter, Xiomara in 2022, and very quickly became daddy’s girl. Most recently, Brett and his wife Jennifer were expecting the birth of their second daughter, due in September. He was very excited for her arrival.

Something that was very important to Brett was his Indigenous culture. He was a piercer, a medicine man, a sweat lodge and shake tent carrier, and took that education very seriously. Brett started sundancing when he was 16, where he fasted and pierced and dragged. He followed his dream when it came to his Anishinaabe beliefs. He later became his dad’s scabe. He was always willing to share his knowledge when it came to his beliefs. He was a ceremony man, healer and he learned how to make pipes, learning under his grandfather. Although he loved to have fun, when it came to sundance, things had to be done right. Brett led a clean life, but he never judged people who struggled. He was very proudly sober and advocated for sober living.

The family would like to thank everyone for their support.

A wake will take place on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. The pallbearers will be members of his work family; honorary pallbearers are everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed by registering at the link on Brett’s obituary page. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com 204-857-4021

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 23, 2026